Spain to lift outdoor mask requirement

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   Misbah786posted 3 years ago

   Spain will lift the legal requirement to wear a mask outdoors from June 26.
   "This will be the last weekend with face masks outside, as we will no longer be wearing them in open spaces outside from June 26," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez

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      Kyler J Falkposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Congrats to Spain, I don't think it was ever a national requirement here, though some states and cities did take such drastic measures.

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         Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

         I am glad that we will go mask-free, But they are making vaccine a compulsion. Many people don't want to take it. Well, I have broken the law of wearing a mask several times in the starting period... Lol!!
         As gyms were closed for a long time here, and I was taking frequent street walks while wearing a headphone and not wearing a mask, the police stopped and questioned me multiple times. I once paid a fine for doing this. Lol!

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            Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            France is also doing the same they are also lifting the legal requirement to wear a mask

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      CHRIS57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I heard that distancing and mask wearing mandates were very strict in Spain (and obviously had to be, because Spain was very badly hit). Was mask wearing also required in the tourist areas like Mallorca, Costa Brava or Costa del Sol? Must have been devastating financially for the tourist business.
      
      In Germany we never had outdoor mask wearing mandates. Only for a few weeks in winter there were some restrictions for city center shopping zones.
      
      Apparently nowhere on our planet (except China and some remote places) the Covid restrictions did accomplish what they were supposed to do: Protect the vulnerable. No matter how strict or how soft the restrictions were.
      
      Sad story, i hope it is soon over for all of us.

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         Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, Mr. Chris it was mandatory to wear masks all over the Spain. Costa Brava, Palma de Mallorca, Girona, Roses etc. are some of the tourist attractions where people go to enjoy Beaches. We went to Palma de Mallorca in the Mid of May this year, and they didn't let us enter without a PCR test even being residents of Spain. The use of face masks in public spaces in Spain was obligatory since April of last year, in open-air spaces and any closed space that is for public use or that is open to the public. It's nice to know that it was not mandatory in Germany

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      peterstreepposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, finally. But still, you see a lot of people wearing masks on the streets although you don't have to anymore.
      Imho masks outside never made sense to me as the infection rate outside in the open air is incredibly small. But I can imagine that it will help to build up discipline to wear them.
      I live in the province of Valencia who had the lowest infection rate of Europe. Perhaps it is the wind of the sea, or the well-organized health care system (Government-owned like the NHS) or the people living according to the rules. (not like Madrid)  But the confinements, the curfew and the obligated masks did certainly help.
      For my jab I got an SMS with the two dates to get my Pfizer vaccine. No problems or side effects.
      Yesterday I went to an open-air concert in Valencia on the main square. And it was really good to see how life is becoming normal again. During the concert, we had to wear masks though, as the guard told us. All seats (no dancing allowed) were neatly organized with space in between.

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         Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, it's getting better but still many people in Barcelona are wearing masks in open air. By the way I got positive so be careful even in open spaces. Especially be careful in Gyms

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            peterstreepposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            I think Gyms should be a place to avoid, crazy to go there as there's a lot of sweat in the air. I avoided everything indoors. especially with a lot of people.
            A couple of friends of mine were positive too, but they experienced it as a terrible hangover. and a couple of weeks' loss of smell.
            Another friend didn't feel a thing, but he had to be in quarantine for 5 weeks in Ethiopia as he wasn't allowed to fly back to Spain. (He's a security specialist helping  foreign aid organizations people.) The quarantine (prisoner in a hotel room..) was worse than the virus.
            Hope the virus didn't damage you too much.

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               Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks, Peter. Yes, I'm fine and grateful that it didn't affect me as hard as it could have.
               Blessings to you!

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            CHRIS57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            I would agree, gyms are no good place to go. Indoors with much transpiration and probably under the cealing a good propeller to keep air circulating. Good that you overcame your infection and hope you are well.
            
            Anyways, with the Delta variant coming, we will all face a dire situation in the near future. The previous vaccination program in all countries was primarily targeting the most vulnerable, the elderly. So now fatality rates are down. But the vaccination progress does not include the active, jounger population. If Spain (or Germany) has a total vaccination count closing in on 60%, which is initially enough for herd immunity, this is split into 95% for the elderly and care connected people and some 30% for the younger populus.
            
            Initial virus variant had a reproduction factor R=3, which means that 3 persons were infected by 1 positive. So a good 60-65% would knock out 2 of the 3 potentially infected and thus control the virus.
            
            Now the Delta variant probably has an R-factor of 4 or 5. This would require some 75 (3/4) to 80% (4/5) for herd immunity. And if some age groups like children and young adults have a vaccination percentage of 20% or less, then guess what will happen.
            
            Actually it is already happening in Israel and especially in the UK. Fatalities are down and stay low, but the virus is picking up speed. Me think it will be a race for vaccination coverage before the the Delta variant gets a hold of us.
            
            And it will also be a matter of symptoms. If the younger get the virus and only develop symptoms of a mild flu or a nasty cold, without long term aftereffects, then what to bother about? At least a normal flu also has the potential to cause long term aftereffects.
            
            Possibly administrations see this the same way, so they don´t impose new restrictions even if everyone knows what is coming.

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years ago

   I believe it is very important for us to stop with the mask-wearing. It is very stifling to the psyche. It changes the personality and hampers the joy of life. Who can be themselves wearing a mask?
   No one.
   Why continue? Some do out of sheer sheepleness. not a word? oh well.

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      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed, wearing a mask was only bringing pimples to my face "Maskne"…Lol

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         Kathryn L Hillposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         people tend to look down, shoe gazing style...

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            Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            

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   Jodahposted 3 years ago

   That is a relief Misbah. We have only had two short periods here where mask wearing was compulsory in public. In the larger cities like Melbourne and Sydney it is more frequent..whenever a new outbreak is discovered.

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      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, John, it's a big relief. Although Spanish people and our cops here did a wonderful job. Thankfully the number of cases had reduced a lot. According to  the fresh reports, 50 cases per 100K people. In January the daily average cases were 3400+. There have been 3,757,442 cases and 80,652 deaths due to Covid in the country since the pandemic began. Spain has seen the worst. People here were not just wearing masks. They were also wearing Gloves, avoiding public transport, Gyms and parks were closed, almost no source of entertainment until 9th of May. Only a single person was allowed to sit in the car later they made it 2. A driver and a passenger on the back seat of the car. There were too many restrictions. Now there are few tourists here. Barcelona started to seem like Barcelona. But still there's a fear that people don't want to get vaccinated. Probably the government will have to be strict to get them vaccinated.
      You are lucky you have enjoyed a mask free period
      Blessings always

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   Moondot1822posted 3 years ago

   That's good, Misbah. But you need to take care of yourself when going out. By the way, are you against vaccination? Stay safe and healthy.

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      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, Moon, it is great news. Your question seriously made me laugh... But you really hit the point. Lol. I am not against the vaccination. I would be happy taking it either way. By infection or injection. I am asthmatic and my family was worried about my health when Covid was on peak here. Thanks to our Pakistani doctors their high doses of medications seems to have created a lot different kind of antibodies in me.. Lol... As you know they use to prescribe antibiotics to a five- year old just because they are having cold or flu or for any minor infections. It's not same here. Doctors avoid prescribing antibiotics and the pharmacies also don't sell them without prescription. I have been on high steroids due to asthma when I was a kid. Plus, I believe my immune system is also great. So, Corona actually fears to come near me. Although I have wished a lot to experience it... Lol..
      Apart from a joke many people here are scared to take the vaccine. But a lot have got vaccinated as well.
      You too take care of yourself. Many Blessings to you, dear sister

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         doctorkhalidposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks! Just Laugh again :-)

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